Ag & Food Sector Strategy

Visit the link to our NEW SURVEY AVAILABLE until August 18! For our final round of engagement on this strategy, let us know how well our suggested action items will work to make progress on the areas that are important to you and others in local agriculture and food sector industries.

Work is progressing on the Agriculture and Food Sector Development Strategy that will identify ways to ensure we are a regional leader in agriculture and food opportunities.

Together with agriculture and food producers, processors, manufacturers; food service and retail; agriculture and food industry representatives; and residents – we are exploring:

What is needed to help Strathcona County attract investment in this sector.
What qualities and policies are required to transform Strathcona County into an ideal location for agriculture and food sector ventures.
Ways to connect agriculture and food businesses with resources, support networks and science expertise.

Two community engagement summary reports are now available that share what we heard from the sector and residents.

Phase 3 - Community Engagement Report - released May 2024

Phase 2 - Community Engagement Summary - released February 2024

We thank all businesses and residents and who have contributed and engaged in the development of this strategy to date.

Drawing from this input, along with other considerations, a draft strategy will be completed and shared before the finalized strategy is presented to Council later this year.

Work is progressing on the Agriculture and Food Sector Development Strategy that will identify ways to ensure we are a regional leader in agriculture and food opportunities.

Together with agriculture and food producers, processors, manufacturers; food service and retail; agriculture and food industry representatives; and residents – we are exploring:

What is needed to help Strathcona County attract investment in this sector.
What qualities and policies are required to transform Strathcona County into an ideal location for agriculture and food sector ventures.
Ways to connect agriculture and food businesses with resources, support networks and science expertise.

Two community engagement summary reports are now available that share what we heard from the sector and residents.

Phase 3 - Community Engagement Report - released May 2024

Phase 2 - Community Engagement Summary - released February 2024

We thank all businesses and residents and who have contributed and engaged in the development of this strategy to date.

Drawing from this input, along with other considerations, a draft strategy will be completed and shared before the finalized strategy is presented to Council later this year.

Stories

How do you learn about and connect with local food businesses and agricultural producers?

Examples include different forms of social media, internet searches, recommendations from friends and family, Open Farm Days and other events.

Thank you for sharing your story with us! Keep checking back for more questions to help inform the Strategy.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded. Please check out our engagement summary reports for more detail on what we heard.

Share Buy Local on Facebook Share Buy Local on Twitter Share Buy Local on Linkedin Email Buy Local link

Buy Local

by KimB, 8 months ago

Open Farm Days
Subscribed to a summer farm produce supply
Frequently go to Farmer's Markets and look for local produce
Share CSA and supporting the small local food producers on Facebook Share CSA and supporting the small local food producers on Twitter Share CSA and supporting the small local food producers on Linkedin Email CSA and supporting the small local food producers link

CSA and supporting the small local food producers

by bikeannie, over 1 year ago

Why is it that we do not have a listing of all the local community supported agriculture providers in Strathcona County. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community-supported_agriculture
Why do we have competing farmer's markets on the same day? I rarely shop at the local farmer's market because instead of one large market like St. Albert where the vendors are curated and selected, we have 4 markets in SHPK that compete with each other. The best market is the Adrossan market on Tuesday night.
I have bought into a CSA for as long as I lived in Strathcona County. Currently my CSA is near Camrose and... Continue reading
Share Local Food on Facebook Share Local Food on Twitter Share Local Food on Linkedin Email Local Food link

Local Food

by Terry, over 1 year ago

I would buy all vegetables and protein (meat) products produced in Strathcona County. Personal Comment: The highly productive soil area of Bremner should be promoted and used for commercial scale vegetable production vs housing. Every taxpayer in Strathcona County should be provided the opportunity to vote on this topic directly, in a plebiscite, just as we all did for Millennium Place. The precident has been set, there is no justifiable reason not to vote on this important financial and environmental issue.

1 comment
Share Local Food on Facebook Share Local Food on Twitter Share Local Food on Linkedin Email Local Food link

Local Food

by olivemartini, over 1 year ago

I would buy local fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes, corn, lettuce, peppers, onions, celery, turnips, squash And raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, etc. I prefer local produce then products shipped in from California, Mexico or further afar by container whose cleanliness and when harvested is suspect.
Share Local Foods on Facebook Share Local Foods on Twitter Share Local Foods on Linkedin Email Local Foods link

Local Foods

by RuralB, over 1 year ago

Would purchase everything & anything that is produced locally first before venturing out to a chain grocery store.
Share Food I would eat from local producers - EVERYTHING on Facebook Share Food I would eat from local producers - EVERYTHING on Twitter Share Food I would eat from local producers - EVERYTHING on Linkedin Email Food I would eat from local producers - EVERYTHING link

Food I would eat from local producers - EVERYTHING

by Anne, over 1 year ago

I know we can't grow everything locally that we eat but what if we could find ways to make that happen? We are working on that - you are working on that. Let's make it happen.

1 comment
Share A local "Al's" on Facebook Share A local "Al's" on Twitter Share A local "Al's" on Linkedin Email A local "Al's" link

A local "Al's"

over 1 year ago

Every November my extended family waits to see who will be the first to spot Al's carrots in Sobeys stores. They are not a Strathcona County product, but an Alberta one. Sadly, they are usually only available for a couple of months before they disappear. If there was a way to grow carrots indoors to a similar level of quality so that we could have that fantastic taste all year round, I would be all over it, even at a higher price point than regular carrots.
Share Growing and sharing on Facebook Share Growing and sharing on Twitter Share Growing and sharing on Linkedin Email Growing and sharing link

Growing and sharing

by countyismyhome, over 1 year ago

Last year I planted 12 tomato plants in one of my box tiers alongside of my home. Too many I thought. Oh well my brother gave them to me so I planted them.They grew in to monster plants. My husband began pruning them so there would be fruit and not just greenery.When they produced I must have given away at least 12 to 15 bags to neighbours and friends. I made some tomatoes in oil and we had enough to eat from late August til the third week in November. Even green ones slowly ripen in a box. Not bad... Continue reading